Clothes dryer/filter/humidifier

Abstract

An air filter and humidifier is attached to the back of a clothes dryer. Exhaust air is ducted from the clothes dryer exhaust port to the inlet port on the bottom of the filter/humidifier. From there, the exhaust air is directed upwardly through the filter/humidifier. A deflector redirects the exhaust air obliquely downward against the surface of water within a container. The water humidifies and filters the exhaust air. A variable amount of the conditioned air escapes through an adjustable vent lid into the home and the remainder is discharged through the filter/humidifier and ducted outdoors. A hinged or removable lid allows the user to remove the water container to add or replace water.

I claim: 
     
       1. An air filter and humidifier adapted to be connected between the upstream and downstream exhaust ducts of a clothes dryer for conditioning its air exhaust comprising: (a) an enclosure;   (b) a water container having an open upper end within the enclosure;   (c) routing means within the enclosure for receiving the air exhaust of a clothes dryer and directing it obliquely toward the open upper end of the water container; and   (d) outlet means within the enclosure for discharging the air exhaust directly into a room containing the enclosure.   
     
     
       2. The air filter and humidifier of claim 1, further comprising: (a) means for mounting the device to the clothes dryer.   
     
     
       3. The air filter and humidifier of claim 1, wherein the outlet means further comprises: (a) a fitting adapted to be connected to the downstream exhaust duct of a clothes dryer; and   (b) adjustable vent means for variably discharging a portion of the conditioned air directly into the atmosphere of a room containing the enclosure.   
     
     
       4. An air filter and humidifier adapted to be connected between the upstream and downstream exhaust ducts of a clothes dryer for conditioning its air exhaust comprising: (a) an enclosure having a partially open top end and a closed lower end;   (b) a water container having an open upper end within the enclosure, the water container being removable from the enclosure through the partially open top end;   (c) inlet means in the enclosure adapted to receive the air exhausted at the upstream exhaust duct of a clothes dryer;   (d) inlet duct means extending vertically within the enclosure adjacent to the container, the inlet duct means having a lower end communicating with the inlet means;   (e) deflector means within the enclosure at a location above the upper end of the inlet duct for directing air toward the open upper end of the water container;   (f) fitting means in the enclosure for connection to the downstream exhaust duct of a clothes dryer; and   (g) a lid covering the partially open top side of the enclosure, the lid including vent means for discharging the conditioned air into the atmosphere of a room containing the enclosure.   
     
     
       5. The air filter and humidifier of claim 4, wherein the lid is removable to allow removal of the container from within the enclosure. 
     
     
       6. The air filter and humidifier of claim 4, wherein the lid is hinged to allow removal of the container from within the enclosure. 
     
     
       7. The air filter and humidifier of claim 4, wherein the vent means is adjustable to vary the amount of air exhaust discharged into the atmosphere through it. 
     
     
       8. The air filter and humidifier of claim 4 wherein the vent means comprises: (a) first and second plates, each having at least one aperture, the first and second plates being aligned so that at least one aperture of the first plate and at least one aperture of the second plate form at least one pair of coinciding apertures; and   (b) an adjustment plate slidably fitting between the first and second plates between a fully closed position and a fully open position, the adjustment plate having at least one aperture positioned to coincide with at least one pair of coinciding apertures in the first and second plates only when the adjustment plate is at its fully open position, whereby discharge of the air exhaust into the atmosphere through the coinciding apertures is permitted when the adjustable plate is in its fully open position and discharge of the air exhaust into the atmosphere is prevented when the adjustable plate is in its fully closed position.   
     
     
       9. The air filter and humidifier of claim 4, wherein: (a) the inlet means further comprises a hollow adapter mounted to the lower end of the enclosure and adapted on one side to be connected to the upstream exhaust duct of a clothes dryer;   (b) the adapter having an open upper end communicating with the lower end of the inlet duct to provide communication between the upstream exhaust duct and the lower end of the inlet duct; and   (c) the adapter being mountable to the enclosure in at least two orientations, whereby the upstream exhaust is receivable from at least two horizontal directions.